Author: rike jokanan

Me, now here

And It is A New Cycle, Greek….

Bob, Learning, love

Our dear cat, Greek just went across the rainbow yesterday May 10 15:15 Tulungagung time. She’d been sick for the past two weeks — one bump inside her stomoch above hind legs had become bigger and bigger, made her weak and her body coul not hold it anymore….

…. We said goodbye today…. Greek, thank you for having shared your happiness, joy and purity with our family. It is not as long as we expect but it’s been a beautiful connection.

I was not there so much with you as I’m in Singapore and you’re in Indonesia with mom and my sisters…. But truly I love you with all my heart! I just planned to see you next week. To hug you….

Such a beautiful soul you are.
We won’t forget you.
Your playfulness, cuteness, chubbyness, all quality in yours is just bondng us stronger with you.

Now you must be above, looking at us…. Oh looking at me especially…. 🙂
You are saying that you are fine, you are happier and more united with everything. Salaam for you, my dear Greek.

You’re just like air…. I’m breathing you.
You’re just like sunray…. Shining on me….
You’re just like water…. I’m fresh by you.
Now, you are more real.
Ever real. Forever real.

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Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Forgive us for not making you alive for so long, but we’re sure it is also your choice.
I’m sorry….
Thank you, Greek.

 

Say our warm love and sweet regards to Bob, Greece, Greg and all our family members across the bridge.

See you in a better place and time.

We love you so much.

Soul is soul. We cry over the plane that we can’t touch with our body but the soul is always there, lingering gracefully and we still can feel it with our “other” body.
We lose our beloved parents, children, brothers, sisters or pets that we think leave us forever but truly they are here and still close to us if we realise.
Salaam…. to all Souls who rest for the next cycles, rest in peace…. 🙏🙏🙏💞💞💞🎈🎈🎈

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Singapore – May 12, 2016 – 4:19pm

Focused – haiku

Bob, Learning, love, Poetic, This Person

She’s bulging her eyes.
A brown dot in a ground street.
Good God! It’s a dog!

===

A story of me and my fellow creature, a beautiful dog

And I don’t know to whom I am asking these questions…. And, I find myself in the middle of a market…. Everyone is shouting, everyone is selling, everyone is focusing on what words they’re saying.

Eveyone is speaking, but no one is listening, everyone is living alone….

When I saw a dog in a steet, a dusty ground street. I asked him where I ought to go…. And, he just looked at me without a word passing by me away….

Every one is living, every one is breathing, every one is busy with oneself….

Every one is walking, but no one was stopping, just to care what life is in the other’s end….

Then I chased the dog passing by me. I said, “Hello, Dog. Where are you going? Can I go with you until the next cross roads”. He nodded his head and smiled….

Then we went ahead together. No cross road ahead we found and we decided to go ahead together until we really had to quit….

Life is about sharing even with a dog. Thank you, God for sending me a dog that has been so focused on walking down the path of life.

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Singapore, May 2, 2016 – 9:58pm

She’s walking quietly – haiku

Learning, love, Poetic

She’s walking quietly,
Passing four corners, kind of —
Circumambulates.

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picture borrowed from http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/nustar/multimedia/pia16695.html

Temasek – April 1, 2016 / 10:08

Guilty is….

Bob, Learning

Guilty feeling is:
When it took too long to decide whether to leave my MacBook on a table outside to get cat food or to stay while seeing a stray skinny hungry cat is around — and, when finally I decided to buy two pieces of fried fish, the cat was nowhere to find.

Please forgive me, Mother Gaia….

 

Kantor Telkom Tulungagung – March 11, 2016 – 9:58am

Low Demanded Yet….

Learning

There is someone who keeps feeding me that oneself is being better and qualified than me; who thinks that one makes best decision just because one came earlier on the spot.

But I don’t buy in. But I won’t support one. One should realise that one should learn about oneself. Wise than smart Polite than firm? Nice than strict.

Hi, One. I’ll help you shine but don’t ever ask me to take aside my logic. If you want to shine the way you are, just do. I have my own way to shine.

I’m learning about myself. I can be wise and smart, polite and firm, nice and strict. Even it doesn’t make me popular, I won’t mind. My life is not to earn one’s approval, it is to earn One’s approval.

Oh my…. I’m being low demanded yet in silent this soul is loaded with rich knowledge and experiences.
After a discussion of one project that might not work if using my humble yet logic flow

GH Kuala Lumpur, March 2, 2016 – 23:28

If Only

Bob, Learning, love

If only you know what the dogs are saying while barking, you’ll want to apologize to yourselves and to Mother Earth.

It is time for human beings to stop abusing their existence.

 

======= Bahasa Indonesia

Jika saja kau paham apa arti gonggongan anjing, kau akan meminta maaf pada dirimu sendiri dan pada Ibu Bumi.

Umat manusia sudah saatnya berhenti menyelewengkan keberadaannya.

 

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JWM Hanoi – Febraury 26, 2016 – 12:36am

The Great Gatsby – haiku

Learning, Map It!

Beauty of ladies
And gents are full of smiles and fun
At The Great Gatsby

Shangri-La Singapore, January 30, 2016

A Quick Sharing

Learning

Some people are just racist. They think they are better than others just because of their colors, their nationalities, their beliefs, their caste, etc….

They need some education and experience to be able to appreciate other human beings without considering all those material status.

Oye, Soul! Come alive and guide your plane to spread peace and love….

Da Nang International Airport – January 21, 2016 – 15:35

Some Captured in Da Nang

Learning, Map It!

Took some pictures just yesterday, without technicality, without sophisticated lenses, without a thought….
Only with a heart, a pair of eyes and an iPhone6.

Enjoy….

Thanks to Ninh Tran for being a photographer in which I’m in. He is the one in blue, praying.

Location: Linh Ung – Bai But Pagoda, an attractive tourist destination and the biggest pagoda in the charming coastal city of Da Nang

 

 

 

HRegency – January 21, 2016 – 12:03am

Hoi An City – haiku

Learning, Map It!, Poetic

Lines of old houses
Are sprawling at a river —
Hoi An city.

hoi-an-river-by-night-10699

Picture borrowed from http://vietnamtravelblogs.com/destinations-2/hoi-night.php

Da Nang – January 17, 2016 – 7:55pm

Lasia Wayan Bali

Learning, Map It!, Those People

I love Bali, one of 17,504 islands in my beloved country, Indonesia. It has become my playground for the past several years. There is always thing to do there: meeting friends, joining some retreat programs, attending music concerts or festivals, visiting family or just doing nothing by the rice fields or seaside. I mostly go to Bali with my friends, at least two of us, maximum five of us.

But, wait! This writing is not about me. It is about a tour guide who has always accompanied us in Bali. Yes, I’m promoting him for anyone of you who happens to visit Bali.

His name is Lasia Wayan or “Bli Jerry”.

He’s always the driver, tour guide cum photographer for all of us. So far we haven’t decided to replace him with anyone else – just fyi, if he is not available, I’d just take taxi and not call other tour guides or drivers. He has become a kind of mascot for us. He drives us to any destinations we want to go to. He explains about that location in his own way – such a hillarious man. He also takes picture for us.

Yes, he is also a photographer. He is a Canon person, while we are Nikon people. But he would confidently grab our cameras and shoot for us.

“Ok, please get ready, Ladies…. One, two, three….!”

“Aen twee drie!”

“Satu, dua, tiga!”

“Un, deux, trois!”

He is using any language he remembers. No, no he does not speak many languages — he masters English but knows a bit about some others’ survival level.

He is a funny guy but we love him as a friend – he is a helpful and friendly Balinese. Seems that he is lvoed by other clients, too. Even one of his client from France has created a website to collect his work.

Interested to see? Here it is….

http://www.jerryphotography.com/portfolio.html

And, here is his picture.

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=== (versi Bahasa Indonesia)

Aku cinta Bali, salah satu dari 17,504 total pulai di negara yang sangat kucintai, Indonesia. Bali sudah semacam tempat main beberapa tahun belakangan ini. Ada saja yang bisa dilakukan di sana: ketemu teman lah, ikutan retreat, nonton konser musik atau festival jazz, anjangsana sepupu-sepupu, atau sekadar santai nggak ngapa-ngapain di pinggir sawah atau pantai. Seringnya kita ke sana barengan, minimal dua orang maksimal lima orang.

Tapi tunggu, tulisan ini bukan tentang saya atau Bali, Tulisan ini dimaksudkan tentang pemandu wisata yang selalu menemani kami selama di Bali. Ya, saya sedang mempromosikan dia kepada Anda yang ada keinginan mengunjungi Bali.

Namanya adalah Lasia Wayan atau “Bli Jerry”.

Beli Jerry selalu menjadi supir, pemandu wisata sekaligus juru foto kami. Sampai saat ini sih kami belum ada rencana menggantikan posisi beliau dengan yang lain. Jadi kalau dia sedang tidak bisa mengantar kami, biasanya kami ambil taksi, pergi sendiri tanpa menyewa supir atau pemandu wisata lain. Dia udah jadi maskot buat kita. Dia nyupirin kemana kita mau pergi. Dia menerangkan tentang lokasi yang kita kunjungi – caranya menjelaskan biasanya dicampuri kelucuan-kelucuan. Dia juga memotret kita.

Yes, dia adalah juru foto. Dia ini orang Canon, sedangkan kita semua orang Nikon. Tapi tetep aja dia pede ambil kamera kami buat motret-motret kita.

“Ok, tolong bersiap, Ladies…. One, two, three….!”

“Aen twee drie!”

“Satu, dua, tiga!”

“Un, deux, trois!”

Dia sih pakai bahasa apa saja yang dia ingat. Dia sih nggak menguasai banyak bahasa, cuma Bahasa Inggris tapi dikit-dikit beberapa bahasa dia bisa survival level.

Bli Jerry ini lucu banget tapi kita sayang dia sebagai teman lah – dia sini termasuk orang Bali yang suka menolong dan ramah. Kelihatannya pelanggan dia yang lain juga menyayangi dia juga. Sampai-sampai ada seorang pelanggan dari Perancis yang membuatkan dia situs web untuk mengumpulkan foto-foto hasil jepretannya.

Pengen lihat? Ini dia….

http://www.jerryphotography.com/portfolio.html

Foto Bli Jerry ada di versi Bahasa Inggris di atas.

 

Temasek – January 10, 2016 – 5:01pm

Wake Up Late (Kesiangan) – haiku

Bob, Learning, love

Wake up late again!
‘Coz of a good bed and sweet dream
Natural lullaby.

===== (versi Bahasa Indonesia)

Eh, kesiangan!
Terlena kasur empuk
Dan mimpi indah.

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Temasek – January 9, 2016 – 3:34pm

Crazy About (Tergila-gila)

Bob, Learning, love, Poetic

Have you ever been so crazy about something?
Just to let you know, I am now crazy about one thing.
And the thing is nothing.

 

===== (versi Bahasa Indonesia)

 

Pernahkah kalian tergila-gila pada sesuatu?
Sekadar berbagi tahu, ingsun sedang tergila-gila pada satu hal.
Hal itu bukan apa-apa.

Temasek – January 9, 2016 – 3:11am

Tongue Faves (Lidah Suka ‘Kan)

Learning, love

Eating is a must for me, not that routine of having breakfast, lunch and dinner as a package – but can be the combination of breakfast and lunch, brunch and dinner, lunch and dinner or three of them. Sometimes snack is coming in between. Please feel free to criticize my eating pattern…. 🙂

Having eaten for the past 40 years, I almost didn’t remember what’s the real purpose of eating. Oh, is it to be full? Can be. To supply energy to body, yes. Sometimes to compensate one stressful day, ok. I did eat when someone asked me to go out even when I was not hungry – oh, to please somebody…. Too complicated to talk about what eating is for when you actually don’t understand the concept of eating.

As I forgot, I just follow what my tongue wants. Like today, my nostrils captured the fragrance of Indonesian sambal brought by the wind through my window sills. Then I decided to have “Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut” for my dinner. And when my house mate asked if I want her Indonesian fried chicken, my tongue still danced to say yes.

Do I really need the fried chicken after the fried duck? I am actually not hungry. But my tongue, oh my tongue….

My tongue seems to rule my stomach. My stomach does not feel the hunger but my tongue instructs me to eat.

Hold on. Hey, Brain. Brain, please give true signage. Don’t give me false alarm. You want me to be fatter? You want the stomach to get bloated? Stop, stop, stop!

But Brain refused the right thing. Tongue is Brain’s bestfriend this time. And I took my house mate’s offer — a plate of oily delicious Indonesian fried rice.

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Fried duck by Pak Ndut

Oh gosh! How could I ignore the real purpose of eating and just care about my tongue fave.

I’m sorry my stomach…. I know now you are too full but I promise this will be the last to take a side of Tongue.

Ummm…. No, no I cancelled my promise. But at least most of my eating will be to supply energy to my body.

Oh, stupid me!!!

==== (versi Bahasa Indonesia)

Makan itu keharusan, tapi nggak harus rutin serangkaian sarapan, makan siang dan makan malam – bisa saja kombinasi antara sarapan dan makan siang, makan Dhuha dan makan malam, makan siang dan makan malam atau ya ketiga-tiganya. Kadang ada cemilan di sela-selanya. Kalau mau mengkritisi pola makan saya, silakan…. 🙂

Padahal sudah pengalaman makan selama 40 tahun kok ya masih lupa tujuan makan yang sebenarnya. Apa sih tujuan makan? Biar kenyang? Kali…. Untuk mensuplai energi kepada badan, iya lah. Kadang sih juga untuk menghilangkan stres akibat kerjaan. Sempat juga makan saat tidak lapar, hanya karena diajak teman jadi kadang makan untuk menyenangkan orang lain…. haduh, susah banget ngomongin tujuan makan kalau nggak ngerti konsep makan yang sejatinya.

Ya tapi namanya lupa saya suka mengikuti apa kata lidah dalam hal makan. Seperti hari ini, hidung saya menangkap aroma sambal terasi ala kampungku di Indonesia yang terbawa angin lewat daun jendela yang terbuka. Nggak kuku…. Akhirnya saya putuskan makan “Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut” malamnya. Eh, pulangnya orang rumah nawarin ayam goreng kuning ala Indonesia Raya. Ampun mak…. Lidah kok masih bergoyang-goyang kepengen mencicipi.

Apa memang aku perlu ayam goreng ya? Nggak lapar sih. Tapi Lidah ini oh Lidah….

Tampaknya lidahku telah menguasai perutku. Perutku tak merasa lapar tapi Lidah mengharuskanku makan.

Eh, nanti dulu! Otak eh Otak (bukan otak-otak), tolong kasih tanda yang bener dong. Jangan false alarm. Kamu mau aku makin gendut? Kamu au perut jadi kembung?

Tapi Otak menolak melakukan yang seharusnya. Lidah sudah jadi sahabat Otak. Dan akhirnya saya iyakan tawaran sepiring nasi dan ayam goreng yang memang lekker, makin berminyak makin lezat.

60506653.P1090515copy

semacam inilah ayam goreng yang saya makan
dipinjam dari: http://www.pbase.com/image/60506653

Ya ampun! Kok bisa-bisanya kuabaikan tujuan utama makan dan hanya peduli apa yang lidah sukai.

Maafkan aku, perutku. Aku tahu kamu udah kenyang tapi aku janji ini yang terakhir memihak pada Lidah.

Mmmm…. Nggak juga sih, nggak jadi janji ini yang terakhir deh. Tapi paling tidak sebagian besar makanku akan ditujukan untuk mensuplai energi untuk tubuhku.

Aku emang bodoh!!!

Temasek – January 6, 2016 – 10:35pm

The Biggest Lesson (Pelajaran Terbesar)

Bob, Learning, love

Do you still ask yourselves about what is the biggest lesson in your life? Don’t sweat so much. I dare to confidently tell you to stop and halt a moment.

No need to think of having a past life regression session. No need to consult to a shaman anymore. Just see around.

Who is in your family?

That is the biggest lesson in your current life. Your father, your mother, your sister, your brother, your children, your wife, your husband…. They become yours for a reason.

Think of how well you are as you – a child, a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, etc….

If you still find a gap, then bridge the gap and you are doing your biggest homework of life – family.

Never forget your family, the real closest ones in life. Never ignore them, or else you’ll fail the test of life and MUST retake in the next session. You don’t want to retake the same exam, do you?

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See around again…

It is your family the biggest lesson of yours.

Salaam….

==== (versi Bahasa Indonesia)

Apakah kamu masih bertanya-tanya apa sebenernya pelejaran terbesar dalam hidupmu? Jangan terlalu dipikirin. Saya berani memintamu untuk berhenti sejenak.

Usah berpikir bikin janji untuk past life regression. Tak perlu konsultasi sama dukun lagi. Lihat saja sekitar Anda.

Siapa keluargamu?

Itulah pelajaran terbesar dalam hidupmu. Ayahmu, ibumu, saudaramu, anak-anakmu, isitrimu, suamimu…. Mereka menjadi bagian hidupmu bukan tanpa alasan.

Pikirkan sebaik apa Anda menjadi Anda sekarang – sebagai anak, saudara, ibu, bapak, dll….

Jika kamu masih merasa kurang baik, segeralah perbaiki diri dan saat itulah kamu mengerjakan PR kamu dalam hidup – keluarga.

Jangan lupakan keluargamu, orang-orang yang sesungguhnya dekat denganmu dalam hidupmu. Jangan abaikan mereka, atau kamu gagal dalam ujian kehidupan dan HARUS mengulang di sesi selanjutnya. Kamu nggak pengen mengulang ujian yang sama kan?

Lihatlah sekelilingmu lagi…

Keluarga lah pelajaran terbesarmu..

Salaam….

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Temasek – January 5, 2016 – 9:00pm

2016 Resolution – #2

Bob, Learning, This Person

Oh my…. And it is January 2, 2016. I feel like not ready to change the year – 363 to end this cycle and I haven’t decided if my resolution is fixed yet or need some trimming.

Last week I collected 5 things to focus on in 2016. Too many for a focus but yeah I need to get distracted sometimes ha ha….

So….

  1. I promise to always have some flower when not traveling: easy to have some stems of fresh color in a jar but not traveling for at least one week is still a question. I hope I have more time to see the flower survive for more than one week.
  2. Let me always support animal rescuers. I can’t do it myself with my current type of job. Really, I have to support those kind people better.
  3. I’ve gained too much weight and I MUST handle this problem. No choice: this year I have to take diet seriously and exercise consistently. Get ready for ready space for my swimsuit and gym-suit.
  4. I should be more productive…. Oh no…. How should I explain this to myself? Write more, read more, draw more, etc more — to reach a better target.
  5. And, be balanced! inside out, left and right, back and front

Enough?
I think so.
So, let’s do it!
Yes!!!

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Two happy cats are with me 🙂

Temasek – January 2, 2016 – 4:51am

To Be Remembered – 2016 Resolution #1

Bob, Learning, This Person

I think about death, a lot… But I haven’t thought of whom I want to be remembered when I am gone, until yesterday when I met one of my best friends in Juanda International Airport before I flew back to Singapore.

What do I want to be? Have I done enough in my life? Gosh, I’ve always thought of to be humble but actually I let my own self forget what mission I bring along through my birth.

No dream? I’ve always had a dream.
…. To make my family happy. Is that all?
No….
I’ve always wanted to support my beloved animal rescuers. Is that all?
No….
I’ve always wanted to get all my assignments well done. Is that all?
No….
Hmmm….
So many in the list if I ought to jot down all what I want to accomplish.

Let me make it simple.

I want to be original me. Genuine….
I want to be the best of me.
I want to be predicated as “Mission Accomplished” as my current life.

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Temasek – December 28, 2015 – 8:05pm

Baaaaa!!!

Learning

The goat is screaming in a dark morning. He’s just so lonely, among the crowd of a city…. Screeching train, purring car engines, birds chirping, air conditioner humming…. No one is talking, all are away spending holiday.

He is still in town, left behind to keep it alive. Maybe he’ll leave soon ‘coz the city is going to sleep, too….

To rest for a while in the Christmas Eve.

Baaaaa!!!

Then he eats the green grass alone.
Singapore – December 16, 2016 – 6:32am when it is dark and all family members are spending their holiday in NZ and I’m alone working! Damn…!

I Miss Moppy

Bob, Learning, love

Sometimes love is just a weird feeling that bobs up and down in the consciousness…. Above the surface of emotion, I’ve missed a dog that is lying down under a wooden sofa spending his happy days, thanking Universe for the second chance….

Moppy, do you know that deep down in my heart your name is echoing against any possible walls, unlimited….

You are blessed….

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How are you boy? I hope you are in good shape, though I know you are not perfectly shaped.

Do you know I miss you? Yes, I know you know I do….

Please be happy, count your days in joy before you decide to go across the bridge.

When you are ready to go, please whisper to me. Don’t say good bye, just say good start. Touch my heart with your warm love.

Moppy, you’ve been a good dog. Not that good but you don’t make a lot of complaints and you’ve strongly survived. A tough, stubborn dog you are. A real buddy in a low tide. You make us keep going.

Moppy, if we don’t have time to meet before you go — or before I go — please always remember I love you. I know you love me, too….

Moppy, you still refuse to be bathed? Gosh! Such a selfish dog 🙂

But that’s ok as long as you are clean…. You are wiped, right? Don’t say no! 🙂

Moppy, you’ve taught me a lot of things.

To be strong

To forgive

To accept the worst

To let go………………………………………………………………………………………..

To love

Thank you, Moppy….

 

I can’t stop loving you. Let’s exchange blessings through the wind….

Salaam….

 

Temasek – December 14, 2015 – 10:16pm

A Space In A Room – haiku

Learning, love, Poetic

Moon is shining bright.
A mosquito flies, exploring —
A space in a room.

 

01skywatch120715.ngsversion.1449520787556.adapt.1190.2

 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151207-astronomy-star-moon-planets-stargazing-night-sky/

Temasek – December 12, 2015 – 11:22am